5 of the best watches for photography nerds

Buffy Acacia

Photography and watches are kindred spirits. Both are art forms which are deeply rooted in a past age, yet have kept up with technology and remained essential. Admirers of both generally love when vintage models are honoured, yet are also happy when they’ve been updated for modern convenience. The debates eternally rage between mechanical versus quartz and film versus digital, but all sides can relate to their enjoyment of the hobby. If you want to combine your love of photography and watches, here are some you should think about.

Horage Lensman 2

The Horage Lensman 2 was the main inspiration for this series of articles, as I’ve never seen another watch so perfectly link with a hobby. Not only is it an ode to photography, but it’s also a useful tool, and a great looking watch in its own right. The design, with its boxy-square case and ridged bezel, is clearly inspired by vintage cameras. It also has GMT functionality, which is just an added bonus. The real spectacle here is the exposure calculator built into the bezel. You can line up your ISO with whatever lighting conditions you’re in, and the watch will display what the ideal f-stop should be. The back of the watch is also a gorgeous view, with a display caseback showing off the black-coated Horage K2 with an automatic micro-rotor. Price: CHF 5,450

Leica ZM 1 Monochrom

For photography fans, Leica needs no introduction. What may come as a surprise though, is that such a lofty camera company has actually been producing luxury watches for several years. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Both disciplines require precise micro-machining, and zero tolerance for shortcuts. While the aesthetics may be simple, everything is derived from their expertise in making cameras, and there are plenty of symbolic links too. There’s a power reserve which looks like a shutter, the pusher for advancing the date has the same feeling as a shutter button, and there’s also a shutter button on the crown. That button hacks the movement, representing how time is frozen when a photograph is taken. Price: US$11,500

Casio G-SHOCK G-Lide GBX100-1D

If you’re a landscape or nature photographer, you’ll need to be prepared for some pretty rough terrain and conditions in search of the perfect shot. The best watch for the job in that scenario will almost always be a G-SHOCK, because you need something reliable, and basically invincible. Realistically, any G-SHOCK can handle the rigours of adventure, but I’ve chosen the G-Lide GBX100-1D for its beautifully laid-out tide graph. If you’re looking to snap some photos of the roaring waves or get some crisp macro shots of crabs among the rock pools, that is a genuinely useful feature. Price: A$399

Yes WorldWatch V7

Unless you’ve stumbled across the Yes WorldWatch V7 before, you’ve probably never seen anything quite like it. Although this watch is thoroughly modern, it has its roots in ancient cultures. Time as an arbitrary measurement is a relatively recent development in human society, whereas the things which used to matter were based around the position of the sun. For photographers, knowing exactly when to chase the perfect lighting is the dream come true. Whether you’re trying to capture the feeling of a golden dawn or the soft light of a full moon, the Yes WorldWatch V7 can let you know exactly when to be ready at a glance. In addition to a digital time display, it shows the times for sunrise, sunset, high noon, true midnight, as well as dividing the day up in visible segments of daylight and nighttime hours. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of its functionality. The 46mm x 16mm measurements may scare off a few people, but for such a unique and charming watch, I think the potential comfort sacrifice is worth it. Price: US$695

Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton

If you’re into watches and photography, there’s a pretty high likelihood you’re going to be taking lots of watch photos. It’s tougher than it sounds, because watches are incredibly complex subjects to shoot. Not only are they relatively small, but they have a variety of surfaces, depths, and focal points to consider. The Radio DiaStar Original Skeleton may not have any tricks to help your photography, but it makes for a great photographic challenge. Its vast cushion case with steep slopes is topped with their special Ceramos material, which ushers in a lot of difficult reflections. Then, you have the skeletonised dial which has multiple planes that need to look crisp,  cementing the watch’s dimensionality. When you reach the point of making this watch look good in any lighting conditions and environment, you’ll know you’ve got some serious skills. Price: A$3,250